SEOUL, KOREA — Isolated, tiny and desolate, The Liancourt Rocks are the center of an international dispute that dates back to the 15th century. Koreans claim sovereignty over what they call "Dokdo", while the Japanese maintain that the islands are theirs, calling them "Takeshima". South Korea currently administers this collection of 90 islands and reefs in the Sea of Japan, centered about halfway between South Korea and Japan.
After years of dispute, an authoritative academic paper published in Russia in the early 20th century may reveal the truth to which country these islands belong. In this paper, Dokdo is mentioned as part of Korea because it belonged to Ulleung Island. The book mentions Dokdo as an island -- not a collection of rocks -- and adds that despite a shortage of resources and potable water, the island has an abundance of fishery resources and is a convenient port for fishing boats.
Dokdo is also described as an island of great economic value by a Russian authority in oriental studies, whose book on Korea was translated and published in Korean. The Northeast Asian History Foundation, which published the translation, said it "recognizes that Dokdo was Korean territory even after Japan's annexation of Korea in 1910."
Kim Young-soo of the foundation, said, "In the 'New Geography of Korea' published in 1905 in Japan, Dokdo is also described as a habitable island belonging to Ulleung. But this Russian book is significant in that it records Dokdo's economic value and could be useful for Korea in the territorial dispute. It could also be invaluable for our claims over Dokdo in negotiations over the exclusive economic zone.”
